STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State softball team couldn’t come all of the way back from a four-run deficit Sunday in a 4-3 loss to Illinois on the final day of the February Freezer at the MSU Softball Field.
The game, which capped five games in four days, left MSU at 9-1, while Illinois improved to 3-7.
“Mackenzie Toler was awesome today inside the circle and at the plate,” MSU coach Vann Stuedeman said. “In the late innings we fought back, but just couldn’t get it done. A lot of credit has to be given to the Illinois pitcher, Shelese Arnold. We will get back to work Tuesday so we can keep getting better and learn from this moving forward.”
Freshman Holly Ward getting started in the circle for MSU. Illinois scored all of its runs in the first inning, as Ward fell to 3-1.
Sophomore Katie Anne Bailey singled to right field in the third to give MSU some momentum. Senior Julia Echols laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Bailey into scoring position. Bailey scored on a groundout by sophomore Caroline Seitz, to make it 4-1.
Toler, a sophomore, entered in the fourth to relieve Ward and threw four shutout innings in her second appearance of the season. She allowed one hit and struck out a career-best four.
Toler helped herself with a leadoff single to left field in the sixth. Some small ball by the Bulldogs gave junior Kayla Winkfield the opportunity to score Toler and cut the deficit to 4-2.
In the seventh, Bailey walked. A single by Julia Echols put runners at the corners. A pitch that bypassed the catcher allowed Bailey to score.
MSU will play host to Southeastern Louisiana at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
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